Riding Boot nightmare

[Morganna]

I need to buy myself a decent pair of riding boots, long ones preferrably. Now, I have visited a few local saddleries and nothing they have is comfortable. My calfs are quite well toned thanks to 5 years in the army so they are not the slimmest although certainly not huge - but every riding boot I have tried is just too neat and pinches my skin just under my knee, even the wider leg ones.

Can anyone recommed a style or make of riding boot that will be comfortable to wear but wont break the bank?

Thanks in advance

[flump1967]

My best suggestions are either muck boots - they do a riding one as well as wellies- which fit everyone as they are stretchy, or else short boots with half chaps which I feel give better flexibility and "feel".

[Asti]

I noticed that Mountain Horse now do their Sportive boots in Wide and short fittings might be worth a try!

Saw them in the Ride away Catalogue!

I am going to have a look as I wanted a pair before as everyday boots, but for me they were too long in the leg. Thought shorter versions were a much better bet!

Alternatively try getting them made to measure (My show boots are) expensive but worth it! (I wouldn't let the hospital cut them off. I insisted they pulled them off and I just gritted my teeth)

Short boots are an option, but I myself prefer the extra protection from long boots
A

[Shadowlark]

Hit the Men's section! All my riding boots are men's they are wider in the calf and foot. As men are expected to have the larger calf - and you can find mens in wide also!

good luck
Shauna

[vince42]

I'm on my second set of mountain horse boots and their wide fitting is generous enough for me :o I'm sure you'll find something that fits nicely.

[Bay Mare]

I've got 'toned' calves from ice skating and dancing. I've also got small feet (UK 4/4.5) so manufacturers seem to think that I'm 10 years old with twigs for legs :rolleyes:

I've found that the only things that will fit are to get short joddy boots (I've got Ariats) and team them with a pair of gaiters (I like Ariat and Tredstep). Both companies do a variety of height/width fittings which is good as I like the 'Spanish' cut top and like them to be quite high. It also means that I can have a 'winter' boot and a 'best' or 'summer' boot without having to buy two pairs of top boots.

You can wear gaiters and joddy boots in competition as long as the leather matches and there isn't any decoration on the gaiters.

[Morganna]

Thanks for all the great advise guys. I will be heading to the saddlery on Saturday :D

[Jenni]

i have the equitector long leathers they have the elastic bit at the back. very comfortable indeed.

[Kazzie]

Mountain Horse sportive high riders are great. I've got 'problem' calves... too skinny for most boots and I take size 3, but these boots are great. They come in regular and wide fittings and are really tough yet well shaped. I guess if your legs are too wide for them there's always the high rider II which are similar but slightly more chunky but come in regular, wide widths and short/regular heights.

I wear mine all the time, in the yard and riding they keep my feet really warm.

Hope this helps

[Dummer&Drummer]

ooooo dont go to saddlery till you read my comment :)
ive got a pair of ariat long boots, they newish out, and are tied from the ankle to just up under the knee, so cater for most size calfs and i thorougly recommend them and they are really comfy and so durable and waterproof i get my horse in with them on through all the mud :)

[Morganna]

Ohhhhh those Ariat boots are lovely - just looked them up and they are for sale on ebay for £70.00 - they look really comfy too. Oh crap, now I cant make up my mind which ones I want to buy:( :D

[Dummer&Drummer]

alls i can say, is that i throughly recommend them and i have lived in them on the ground and riding and jumping for the last 2 months (got bad leg as well so very comfy) and if and when they break i would buy them again and again and again :) happy shopping x

[Trewsers]

I thought I'd never find a comfortable long boot - until I tried on the Mountain Rimfrost riders - they're fab - they are soooo comfy both for working around the yard and riding. Santa also rather generously brought me the leather Mountain high riders - they're fab and comfy too - I think they were about £128 the Mountain rimfrosts were about £60 - and they have worn really well.

[Pudding]

My calves are fine and pretty standard but, it sounds like the boots you have tried are too long......anything with a zip up the back should do the trick as you can leave the zip just slightly undone and stop that "behind the knee" pinching.......don't know if I phrased that right or targetted the problem area

[ANN H]

I agree with Flump, the Tyne Long Riding Boot from the Muck Boot Company are great (about £55). I wear mine all the time, around the yard and for riding in. The Ariat ones are on my list but I should imagine they're mega-expensive brand new!

[Asti]

My calves are fine and pretty standard but, it sounds like the boots you have tried are too long......anything with a zip up the back should do the trick as you can leave the zip just slightly undone and stop that "behind the knee" pinching.......don't know if I phrased that right or targetted the problem area

Will your saddler not cut your boots down?

My first pair of cheapy leather boots were split down the back, shortened by the saddler and the calfs narrowed!

But yes if you have short legs your calf fits in a narrower part of the boot than it would if your were a more standard fit!

I prefer long boots to short boots and chaps/gaiters etc as they hold your leg more rigid and you keep your lower leg less floppy (so my dressage trainer told me!)

A

[coverblown]

Try ebay.

There's load on there, some are even already shortened (but they are probably well worn).

I am normally size 4, but prefer a 5 in any boots (riding or otherwise) and really really short (5' 1 1/2". Normal sized calfs tho':)

I bought a pair of Regent boots - hardly worn, size 5 for £18. Dead clean inside and on soles - I really believe the "worn once claim".

Cost me £30 to get them shortened:eek:

But now I've got a gorgeous pair of -feels like - made to measure brand new Regent boots for £48:D :D

[Bay Mare]

ive got a pair of ariat long boots, they newish out, and are tied from the ankle to just up under the knee, so cater for most size calfs and i thorougly recommend them and they are really comfy and so durable and waterproof i get my horse in with them on through all the mud :)

Are those the Glaciers? I've got the short version and they're GORGEOUS, I live in them :)

I'd buy Ariat over MH any time and they're not that much more expensive. I've got my eye on some long Glaciers .... drool :)

[horse trainer]

Try parklands in aston sheffield it has got a wird range of boots

[bluejules]

I have the Muck Boot Tynes and they are superb - although I've had them for ages and will need to replace them soon! They are a bit hot for the summer, though. My daughter has some Ariat Arctic long boots, which are fantastic - they look really smart and cope brilliantly with serious amounts of mud and wet! They cost £99...I am sorely tempted.

But I absolutely love those Ariat Grasmeres (the brown boots with the lacing up the side)...I think they're around £175 though! Having said that, MH boots aren't cheap - and having tried on Ariats and MH, I can honestly say that there is a massive difference in flexilbility around the ankle.

I have short little legs and relatively chunky calves, but the Ariats fit me fine...the MH I tried on were much too high.

[Zesty Maximus]

i have the equitector long leathers they have the elastic bit at the back. very comfortable indeed.

I've got the Equitector long boots too and although reasonably expensive (£150ish) I love them to pieces. They come in normal or wide fittings so I'm sure you'd find a pair to fit.

As Jenni said, they have elastic at the back and so have a good amount of stretch in them too, if you need the extra width. They also have all sorts of flash features such as the Easy Riding Balance System, which help keep your feet in the right place and they have a climate control system which keeps your feet at the same temperature, so no more frozen toes in the winter or sweaty feet in the summer.

If they fit you, I'd definitely recommend them!

Good luck with whatever you chose though.

[Kanuma]

bare in mind that once broken in a pair of boots will drop 1-2 inches at the back of the knee!

[sidesaddlelady1]

Will your saddler not cut your boots down?

My first pair of cheapy leather boots were split down the back, shortened by the saddler and the calfs narrowed!

But yes if you have short legs your calf fits in a narrower part of the boot than it would if your were a more standard fit!

I prefer long boots to short boots and chaps/gaiters etc as they hold your leg more rigid and you keep your lower leg less floppy (so my dressage trainer told me!)

A
Also do you know a boot maker or saddler who could put a an insert in the legs of your boots?

[Asti]

Try a decent local sadler not a place that just sells tack (big difference if you get my meaning)

I am sure they could if you asked!

My Sadler is great they do anything on site and have been in the game for years!

A